The Portland daily press., 1887-05-04
ARsoR DAY.
Some Useful Information About
Trees and How to Plant Them.

L5pringheld Republican,
The current bulletin Of the Amherst agri-
cultural experiment station lays down the
gospel as to tree-planting. II its suggestions
we're carefully needed, many trees trans
/ planted in honor Of arbor day might flourish
a century hence instead Of yielding up the
| ghost at the first touch Of summer drouth.
Here are some of the chief points. Success
full planting depends very largely upon the
condition Of the trees or plants at the time
of planting. The best results are generally
obtained, other things being equal. when the
trees or plants are obtained from local nur-
series, and planted with little or no exposure
to the drying influences Of the sun and air.
The merits Of Massachusetts grown trees as
compared with those grown In the extensive
nurseries in distant States are often discuss
ed, and the latter condemned flor New Eng
land planting. While in many Of the above
mentioned nurseries, owing TO large expert
enee, especial skill and sun naturally suit
ed TO the best growth, very fine trees are
grown. perhaps better than are generally
grown in small local nurseries, yet the dan
ger from injury In transporting so great a
distance and the length OF time from the
digging to transplanting, win make IL gener-
ally safer to depend upon home grown trees
Wutlb lutJ Cdu DC ODbdAucus
Vigorous young plants are much better
than those that have been very long time
In growing 10 suitable size. The average age
for fruit trees and plants In the best condl-
tion for transplanting is about as follows:
Apple, three years from bud; pear, three
years from bud peach, one year from bud
plum, two years from bud cherry. two years
from bud; ounce, three years from cuttings
or root graft grape, one year No. 1, or two
years No. l, from cuttings or layers; currant,
two years from cutting; g0oseberries, two
years from cuttings, raspberries and black
berries, one year from suckers or root cut
tings.
~ is impossible to remove tree from the
nursery to the orchard without injuring
many OF the larger roots, while nearly all
the rootets and all Of the root hairs win be
destroyed by only a slight exposure 10 the
air. As there are no feeding roots on the
newly transplanted tree until new ones are
formed, II none OF the buds or shoots are re-
moved, the supply Of moisture being insuffi-
cient, all make a very feeble growth or fail
to develop at all, especially II drouth
comes on early 10 the summer. To prevent
this injury and ensure a vigorous starting Of
a few buds, the top should be cut back in
proportion TO the amount Of injury 10 the
roots, which will generally be from 4 to Of
the entire top. In this pruning all shoots
should be cut entirely away that are not
needed for the formation OF perfect head,
and the others cut hack ! OF I Of their
length. If the head Is not formed high
enough upon the trunk Ii may often Be
carried higher by cutting on all lateral
shoots. leayfnp> The most central one for
head several inches higher Kan the first
This may be still further carried~a2 by
pinching the ends Of the lowest lateraf3 ~
force the growths into the higher ones. Thus
in single season the head may be carried
from one to two feet higher than II was
when received from the nursery. All in
iuTed roots should have the ends cut smooth
with a sharp knife.
Unfermented manure should never be
placed in contact with the roots Of any tree
or plant, but II dec0mpOsed ana well mixed
with soil no injury will result from the use
Of limited quantity. The best way 10 use
coarse manure Is TO apply II to the surface
about the trees slightly covered with soil.
The quantity TO be used must be varied with
the condition OF the soil, but should be used
sparlngly upon the peach until they begin
bearing. Perhaps the best material TO use
where the soil Is not sufficiently rich for the
production Of fruit, is fine ground bone and
potash, four parts OF the former 10 one part
Of muriate Of potash. This at the rate OF
one pound to the tree mixed In the fine soil
used around the roots and one pound applied
near the surface will ensure a good growth
unless the soil Is unusually poor The holes
should be dug a little larger than the roots
will extend and l0Osened little deeper than
they are TO be planted.
In times Of drought watering may be
avoided by covering the ground for several
feet about the tree with mulch five or six
inches deep, or by stirring the surface soil
once or twice each week. Trees planted in
turf are especially liable TO injury from the
moisture being taken up BY the surrounding
grass roots. This can only be prevented by
covering the ground with a mulch. Of any
waste material, like corn, st0ver, old hay,
straw, shavings, sawdust, fine brush, cider
pemace, meadow mud or peat